“Noah?” She popped up, all exhaustion completely wiped away. She rushed over and fell into his open arms.
I’m not sure when I had gotten up, but now I was frozen in place. If I had any lasting questions to his identity, however, they were gone the moment Addie’s head shot up from her coloring spot on the floor. My brain was now racing back to the conversation with Ivy on Sunday night. Clearly, I should have clarified her comment about Noah returning to the states.
“Daddy?” Addie hopped up, doing her shimmy, and raced for Noah.
He swung her up into his arms and then turned to say something to Ivy as he pulled Addie in for a hug.
A voice next to me pulled me out of the pit of despair I was wallowing in.
“Well, what is this little cozy picture I’m looking at?”
I glanced to see Drew standing by my side.
I let out a deep breath as I glanced back to my nightmare. Addie was now telling a story with lots of gestures as Noah laughed as he looked between Addie and Ivy.
“Well, apparently that’s Noah. Addie’s dad.”
“Excellent. Caught up, then.” Drew muttered.
“When did you get back?”
“Five minutes ago? Threw my stuff at your place. Airbnb isn’t open until next week.”
“You know you’re welcome. Period.”
Ivy looked over, seemingly just remembering that I was there. “Jake— Oh hey, Drew! Come over here, guys.”
“Dad, these are my big boys,” Addie said with a wide grin.
Jesus. I’d entered hell. Good to know.
Drew and I moved to join them. I wanted to run out of the brewery and never look back, but one look at Ads kept me there.
“Noah, this is Jake Spencer. He owns this place with Cole Sullivan. Jake’s a good friend of ours. And this is his brother, Drew, who just moved to the area.” She beamed up at me, then looked to Noah. “And guys, this is Noah Lawson, Addie’s dad.”
Noah adjusted Addie to get a hand free and reached out to shake ours. I noted his measuring glance and gave him one in return.
Addie pipped up. “Mom, are Dad and Drew joining our dinner party at the beerary?”
Ivy looked to Noah, Drew, then me. “Sound good?”
No, it sounds like a damn nightmare. With a sigh, I gestured for them to join us and bit back a comment as Drew slapped my back, letting out a laugh of his own.
Terrific.
25
Well, That Was Awkward
Ivy
I looked around our little group. Drew and Noah had taken the armchairs. Jake and I were still on the couch. After her initial excitement over more guests, Addie had gone back to her coloring. Adam had come over to take orders from our new arrivals, and now we sat in what could only be described as awkward silence.
Drew broke it becauseof course he did.
“So, Noah, you just happen on the brewery here randomly? Saw the five-star rating on Yelp and wanted to try it out?”
I watched him give Jake a glance. I wondered what that was about. Jake was emanating irritated vibes. No idea what was going through his mind. I’d told him about Noah already. And Goddess knows I didn’t realize he was coming to town today.
